Two cases of syphilitic disease of the labyrinth, with remarks / by David Webster.

  • Webster, David, 1842-1923.
Date:
[1883?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Two cases of syphilitic disease of the labyrinth, with remarks / by David Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/10 (page 79)
    The patient was now advised to place himself under the care of Dr. F. J. Bumstead. I complete the history of the case by the following extract from a letter from the patient, dated May 8, 1879, about five years after we first saw him : “ I am very happy to inform you that my general health is now first-rate. I can hear a watch tick at arm’s length with my left ear, but not quite so clearly as with my right. It does not trouble me, however, in any way whatever, and my left ear is just as good as my right for purposes of auscultation. For ordinary conversa¬ tion, practically the left ear is as perfectly good as the right, and I can hear ordinary conversation quite as well as before my left ear became deaf. You will doubtless recollect that the last time I saw you I had mucous patches in my mouth and throat in large numbers. Dr. Bumstead at once placed me upon blue mass and iron, which, together with potass, iodide, I continued to take for two years, taking from six to ten grains of blue mass with half that quantity of ferri sulph. daily ; at one time taking this for nearly a year without intermission. I had returns of the mucous patches, ulceration of fauces and soft palate, and had, two or three times, ulceration of the epiglottis, which was very nearly destroyed, the disease proving very obstinate and unyielding. During the last year that I took it, I took not less than six ounces of the blue mass. Since that time I have had no manifestation of the disease whatever, and have taken no medicine. During all the treatment I never be¬ came salivated, and no physiological effects whatever were shown. My health is now as perfectly good in every way as ever, and I may say my hearing is perfectly restored. I consider mine as a typically bad case with a typically good result. No doubt exists in my mind that had I neglected treatment, or followed it care¬ lessly, the disease would have caused my death.” Case 2.—B. M., aged 43, druggist, came under observation in January, 1878. He stated that he had contracted syphilis while in the army in 1862. The chancre was followed by an eruption, and some loss of hair, but no sore throat or enlargement of glands. He had nocturnal pains in his left shoulder, disturbing his sleep, for a year, on returning from the war. His left shin was then ten¬ der and painful for over a year. An ulcer appeared on his sternum in 1863. There are now eight sores over his sternum, with evi¬ dences of necrosis. Six months ago the right eye began to pro-